Eye protective device



J ly ,1953 E. M.ISPLAINE 2,645/775 EYE PROTECTIVE DEVICE Filed Nov. 1a, 1950.

INVENTOR EDWARD M. SPLNNE.

" 8 figs ATTORSEY Patented July 21,1953 af.

EYE rRo'rEo'rIv Efjnitvioli fl Edward M. Splaine, Southbridge, Mass., assignor to American Optical Company, southbridge Mass., a voluntary association of Massachusetts Application November 18, 1950, Serial No. 1 96,449 I 5 Claims.

Thi invention relates to improvements in eye protective devices and has particular reference to the provision of a light-weight device embodying a single apertured cup member shaped to surround the eyes and to comfortably fit the face and having a relatively thin shield-like lens portion on its forward side formed with a nasal recess in the lower portion thereof and having a separate and novel nose protective member secured within said recess; f One of the principal objects of the i'nventionis to provide a light-weight device ofthe above nature with a main shield-like, lens portion so supported throughout its entire periphery as to be rigidly held against distortion and to be more resistant to impact and strain.

Another object is to provide a device of the above character wherein the nose protective portion thereof may be secured in assembled rela-'- tion with the device with little, if any, danger of having the securing means injure the lens portion thereof during assembly and which resultant device will afford maximum protection and comfort during use.

Another object is to provide a device of the viceembodying'the invention comprise a main transparentshield-like lens 5 formed of trans parent material having a recess 6 formed in the above character which will afford a maximum field of vision.

Another object is to provide a device of the above character formed of relatively thin trans parent material which is extremely light in weight and resistant to shock and breakage.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and it will be apparent that many changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the 'exact'deshown and described, as the preferred form only is given by way of illustration. 7

Referring to the drawing: Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the device illustrated in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a. sectional view taken as on line 33 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and I a Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the separate nose bearing means. i I Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein like characters ofreference designate like parts throughout the several views, the dea. tails of construction and arrangement of parts lower portion" thereof and having an integral cup-like portion 1 shapedto the contour shape of and surrounding said shield-like lens 5. The said 'cup-like' portionhas 'a rear edge portion shaped tothe general contour shape of the face surrounding the eyes and provided with an outw-ardly=flared flange-like" face engaging portion-8. I

The entire "assembly is formed of relatively thin transparent material whereby the flared face engaging portion will have a comfortable fit with the general facial contours of different individuals. i It is pointed out that the cup portion 1 which surrounds the'eyes of the wearer and which is formed integrally with the shield-like lens 5, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is relatively wide at its respective temporal sides 9, and throughout the upper intermediate portion thereof, is curved, as illustrated at H) in Fig. 2', substantially to the forward contour shapeof :the forehead of the wearer. Thefoutwardly flared flange-like portion 8 extends throughout the upper curved portion I0, the sides 9 and into the lower portions l l of the cup member 1, asshown in Fig. 2. The portions ll curve forwardly and are shaped substantially to fitrelat iv'ely intimately with the respective cheekportions of the individuals.' The said portionsll continue inwardly and blend into the opposed i'sides of the nasal recess 6. Said portions H, howevenfare provided with the out- Wardly fiaredfiange-like portions 8 which blend into the opposed sides of the nasal recess 6, as

shown at IL The wallsof the cup portion 1 continue throughout'the nasal recess 6 of the shield-like lens 5 to form an integral rearwardly extending narrowlip portion 13 whose rear edge portion blends an with the lower outwardly flared portions 8 on the opposed sides of the recess 6. The lip. portion l3 at the top of the recess is disposed ina plane substantially parallel with theupperwall portion [4 of the main cup member and'is substantially normal to the plane of the shield-like lens 5. The said rearwardly extending lip portion 13 has a-separate nose protective portion [5 secured; thereto through the used a suitable solvent, cement or other suitable means. Thesaid nose protective portion [5 is provided withzajglioove 16 extending inwardly .of the front thereof and in which the rearmost edge of :theflip portion-l3 extends throughout the .}upper andsideportions of said member l5. The

grooved portion l6 has an adjacent surrounding forwardly extending relatively narrow portion l1 adapted to overlie the upper surface of the inwardly projecting lip portion I3 when secured thereto. The nose protective portion l5 has a forwardly and downwardly angled central portion IB and depending rearwardly tapering side portions Hi to surround the nose and to provide relatively wide area contact therewith.

The portion I8 has an inner surface which tapers downwardly and outwardly asillustrated at 20, substantially to the downward and outward angle of the nose.

Due to the fact that the walls of the wean-like portion I, including the lip H, continue uninterruptingly about the entire contour of the shieldlike lens, and that the lens is formed in integral relation with said walls and lip, the said lens is positively held against distortion and its resistance to impact andstrain is greatlyincreased.

This supporting of the lens against distortion is of utmost importance in a device of this charactor for even slight distortions haves decidedly detrimental effect as to the visual comfort of the wearer.

The rearwardly extending lip portion .II further affords ease in assembling the nose piece I5 therewith in that the area at which the nose piece is cemented to the lip is removed from the plane of the lens and the danger of having the cement accidentally flow onto the face of the lens and possibly 'blemEh the same is obviated.

In the normaluse of the device, 'the portion has but very little, if pressure engagement with the nose of the wearer. However, if the device should receive a substantial blow on the top thereof and in a downward direction, the said portion l5, having relatively wide area contact with the nose is intended to Prevent injury thereto and the real-wardly.extending'portion 13, if the blow is of sufllcient force tend to yield, due to the inherent resiliency of the material, and further provide shock absorbing means.

The said inwardly extending portion l3 also permits portions of the nose protective portion I! to be disposed substantially equally on the opposed sides of the plane of the shield-type lens 5 and the positioning of said portion .15 in a more desirable relation with the nose of the wearer when the device is in position .of use on the face.

The outwardly .flared flange-like portion a which extends throughout theface engaging portion of the cup portion 1 from adjacent the opposed sides of the nasal recess 5 provides wide area side surface and sliding contact with the face as further protective -means functioning cooperatively with the separate nose protective means I5.

The upper and side walls of the cup member are provided with a plurality of ventilation perforations 2|.

The said rearwardly extending portions 9 on the temporal sides of the device are provided with spaced slots 22 through which a suitable headband or the like 23 may be threaded for supporting said device on the head of the wearer. The headband 23 may be formed of any desirable resilient or elastic material.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that simple, efficient and economical means have been provided for accomplishing all the objects and advantages of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An eye protection device of the character described comprising a cup-like member embodying a face shield having a top contour shaped to extend across both eyes of the wearer and having a substantially U-shaped recess in the lower contour thereof dividing said shield into a pair of eye portions, and a continuous side wall extending rearwardly from the side, top and lower contours of the shield including the nasal recess, the portion of the side wall extending rearwardly from the recess being disposed approximately normal to the general plane of said shield, and a nose protective member having a groove on its outer surface disposed with its mouth facing forwardly to receive said normally disposed walls of the recess and being secured thereto, said nose protective member extending forwardly of the front surface of the shield and having its inner surface angled downwardly to approximate the shapeQof the wearers nose and .to;have wide area surface contact therewith.

2. An eye protectiondevice of the character described comprising a cup-like member embodying a face shield havinga top contour shaped to extend across both eyes of the wearer and having .a substantially U-shaped recess in the lower contour thereof dividing said shield into a pair of eye'portions, and a continuous side wall extending rearwardly from the side, top and lower contours of the shield including the nasal recess, said side wall excluding the portion thereof extending rearwardly of the nasal recess terminating in an outwardly-flared face engaging portion, and with the portion of the side wall extending rearwardly from the recess being disposed approximately normal to the general plane of said shield, and a nose protective member having a groove on its outer surface disposed with its mouth facing forwardly :to receive said norma'lly disposed walls of the recess and being secured thereto, said nose protective member extending forwardly of the front surface of the shield and having its inner surface angled downwardly to approximate the shape .of the wearer's nose and to have wide area surface contact therewith.

3. An eye protection device of the, character described comprising a cup-like member embodying a transparent shield portion shaped to extend across'both eyes of the wearer and having a substantially U -shaped recess in the lower contour thereof dividing said shield into a pair of eye portions, and a continuous side wall extending rearwardly from the opposed temporal side, top and lower contours of the shield including the top and opposed sides of the nasal recess, with the rearwardly extending side wall along the opposed temporal side contours of the shield being of the greatest width and progressively decreasing in width in directions inwardly toward each other along the upper and lower contours of the said shield to follow approximately the face contour of the average wearer along the brow and cheeks, and with the portion of the side wall extending rearwardly from the top and opposed sides of the nasal recess being the most narrow and disposed approximately normal to the general plane of said shieldportion of the device, said rearwardly extending side wall along the opposed temporal, upper and lower contours of the shield excepting the top and opposed sides of the nasal recess having an outwardly extending flange portion for engagement with adjacent portions of the face, and an approximately U- shaped nose protective member having a groove on the forward surface of its top and depending sides extending about and secured to the end of said rearwardly extending side wall along the opposed sides and top of the nasal recess, the top portion of said nose protective member extending forwardly of the plane of the shield and in a forwardly and downwardly angled direction approximating the angle of the wearers nose and the depending sides of said nose protective member tapering in a rearward direction whereby said U-shaped nose protective member will be adapted to have wide area contact with the nose to prevent injury thereto as from sudden impact or the like on the device.

4. An eye protection device of the character described comprising a cup-like member embodying a transparent face shield having a top contour shaped to extend across both eyes of the wearer and having a substantially U-shaped recess in the lower contour thereof dividing saidshield into a pair of eye portions joined by an integral narrower bridging portion, and a continuous side wall extending rearwardly from the opposed temporal side, top and lower contours of the shield including the nasal recess, the portion of the side wall extending rearwardly from the recess being disposed approximately normal continuous wall at the top of the nasal recess edge portion fitting in said groove and secured I thereto, said nose protective member extending in a direction forwardly from said secured edge of 1 recess in the lower contour thereof dividing said shield into a pair of eye portions joined integral- 4 1y by a relatively narrow intermediate bridging portion, and a continuous wall integrally formed with said shield and extending rearwardly from the opposed temporal side, top and lower contours of the shield including the top and sides of the nasal recess, said portion of the continuous wall following along the lower contour of the eye portions of the shield from adjacent the opposed sides of the nasal recess, thence along the opposedtemporal side contours and continuing alon the upper contour of the shield having an integrally formed outwardly flaring flange-like portion shaped to engage and have wardly toward said nasal recess whereby the 7 free edges of said inwardly tapering ends will blend with the freeedge of the rearwardly extending wall about the nasal recess, the portions of said continuous wall following the sides of the nasal recess being disposed substantially normal I a to the transparent shield, with the portion of 'the is in position of use so as to provide clearance between it and the wearers face.

' I EDWARD M. SPLAINE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Huggins Mar. 3, 1942 Lee Sept; 26, 1944 Splaine June 7, 1949 Number 

